Israel’s military carried out a series of airstrikes early Thursday on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and the strategic port city of as-Salif, killing at least nine people, according to the Associated Press (AP). The strikes followed Israel’s interception of a Houthi missile reportedly targeting its central territory.
The Israeli military described the targets as Houthi “military sites” located along Yemen’s western coast and deeper inland.
Houthi-controlled broadcaster Al-Masirah reported that the strikes had killed seven individuals at the as-Salif port and two more at the Ras Isa oil terminal, another strategic site in the region.
In a statement, the Israeli military claimed that the Houthis were using these locations for “military purposes,” including smuggling Iranian weapons. However, the statement did not elaborate on the specific reasons for the attacks.
Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the strikes targeted critical energy and port infrastructure, alleging that the Houthis had repurposed these facilities to support their military operations.
The airstrikes mark a significant escalation in regional tensions, highlighting Israel’s growing involvement in countering perceived threats from the Houthis amid their broader conflict with Iranian-backed forces.